Free Desires of a Baron by Rose Gordon Page A

he lifted his hand to the middle of his chest— “she has black hair and blue eyes.”
    “ I don’t know if I’ve seen her come in,” the girl said as she spun the feather stick between her hands, making the dust swirl around them.
    “ She works here,” Giles clarified with a cough.
    “ Works here?” The girl stopped spinning her duster. “The only person who works here other than me is Mrs. Appleton.”
    “ I’ll find her.”
    He didn’t take three steps away from the girl before his mother appeared in his line of vision.
    “Giles?” she called out to him. Her lips stretched into a wide smile. “I’m so glad you came to see me. Come, let’s sit and talk.”
    Giles ground his teeth and forced himself to go over to her. “Is Miss Whitaker here?” he asked without ceremony.
    “Who?”
    Giles frowned. “When Simon returned. Was there—” He broke off. The girl at the front of the store had mentioned a Mrs. Appleton who worked here and now his mother seemed oblivious to who Miss Whitaker was. Was it possible that Simon had already married her? Could he have so quickly? Giles had never paid much attention when people got married except to know there was a short ceremony where they each pledged their lives to each other.
    “Giles?”
    He tried to swallow the unease in his throat, but couldn’t. “The woman.”
    A vertical line formed between his mother’s eyes. “What woman?”
    “ With Simon.”
    “ You mean Isabelle Knight?”
    Giles shook his head vigorously. “No. Lucy Whitaker.”
    “Who?”
    A sound of vexation ripped from his throat. Why couldn’t she understand him?
    “Calm down, Giles,” his mother said, placing her hand on his forearm.
    He shook it off as if her touch burned. “Don’t. I don’t like it.”
    She backed away as if he’d stuck her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” She smoothed her skirts. “I won’t touch you again.”
    It wasn’t being touched he didn’t like. It was— It was— He shook his head to dispel the thought he knew wouldn’t form completely until it didn’t matter anymore.
    “Tell me what you need, Giles?”
    “ I need to talk to her.”
    “ All right. Who?”
    “ The woman with Simon,” he practically bellowed in frustration.
    “ Simon didn’t have anyone with him when he returned,” she said calmly as if suddenly she understood everything.
    “ He didn’t?”
    She shook her head. “When I returned from Telford yesterday he told me a little of what happened, but he never mentioned a woman, Giles, and I mean that.” She blinked her eyes rapidly as if she were trying to keep from crying. “Thank you for your kindness. I know the two of you don’t get along, but I was hoping—”
    “No,” Giles cut in. “He doesn’t like me.”
    “ That’s not true,” his mother said immediately. “He just needs time.”
    Giles doubted that and just shrugged in response. It didn’t bother him that Simon didn’t care for him.
    “Would you like to join us for dinner on Friday night?”
    No, he wouldn’t. “No, thank you.”
    She dropped her hands to her sides and let out a deep breath. “I’m trying, Giles. I know you haven’t had an easy time of it and that’s partly my fault, but would you please give me a chance?”
    “ A chance?” A chance for what? To hurt him again? To manipulate him some more? To use his position for her gain? He took another step back. “No.”
    She swiped at the tears that had slipped from her blue eyes. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t be more help in your search for Miss Whitaker,” she said, her voice uneven. “Simon never spoke of her, but if you’d like to ask him if he knows of her whereabouts he’s recovering over at my house.”
    Giles frowned. “That won’t be necessary.” Surely, if Simon had indeed brought her back, his mother would have known of her existence since Simon was staying with her.
    Then, without another word, because there was nothing more to say to her, Giles spun on his